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in Los Angeles Right now, it's not just the acrid smoke in the air.
There is fear, anxiety and pain. When will they be able to control these fires? What if the wind gets stronger? What if my neighborhood is next?
For evacuees: When can I return? Why won't they let me bring my pet? Or my medication?
Maps show the extent of the devastation caused by wildfires and the destruction of homes
Worst of all, for those who have lost their homes, or, in the small but tragically increasing number of cases, their loved ones feel completely hopeless. And the feeling that the people in charge are not responding with the speed and energy — or, frankly, with compassion — that we expect.
Which brings us to the other emotion that's so evident in Los Angeles today: anger.
Anger at the governor who, when faced with the shocking revelation of dry fire hydrants and empty tanks, waved his arms and said: “Ask the locals.”
Anger at the 'local person' – Mayor Karen Bass When faced with her failure to prepare for this disaster, she failed to do so be in townsimply froze in front of the camera. A strange and pathetic silence for two minutes instead of the strong leadership we need.
But these short-term failures of preparation and response pale in comparison to the long-term failures that have brought us to this point.
Los Angeles wildfires: Returning Santa Ana winds threaten to expand deadly fires
In March, my new book “California's Failure – Reversing the Devastation of America's Worst State” We will catalog the terrible mix of incompetence and ideological extremism that has left California at the top of every want-to-be-bottom list, and at the bottom of every want-to-be-at-the-top list — from the nation's highest poverty rate to its worst business climate; Highest housing costs and lowest homeownership. Crime and homelessness are out of control. It's all paid for by the highest taxes in America.
Now, with the disaster hitting Los Angeles, everyone can see how bad things have gotten.
Every aspect of the wildfire crisis was either caused or exacerbated by Democratic policies and Democratic politicians.
Of course they try to blame it on “climate change”. But other places with similar climates and similar geography don't seem to suffer in the same way.
In California, environmental extremism has halted work on managing what is known as the “fuel load” in our forests and forests. Thinning overgrown forests, removing shrubs and branches – clogged ones Wrong democratic policies.
Money that should have been spent on fire prevention has been diverted into ideological obsessions that do nothing to reduce the risk of wildfires, such as electric vehicles.
We constantly hear about “drought,” but it is actually man-made. We have all the water we need: we just collect it, store it, and deliver it to the right places.
And at the root of it all, the crazy rules and regulations, the crazy nanny state, and the endless armies of bureaucrats and nomads make it impossible to get anything done, to build the housing and infrastructure we need.
Their “green” bureaucracy has even slowed or obstructed vital work such as burying or insulating power lines that spark wildfires! How is this good for the environment?
It's time to stop all this nonsense. It is time for common sense policies and competent government.
That's what I focus on. My California political organization, Golden Together, has brought together leaders from business, the faith community, and experts in firefighting and prevention, to develop positive, practical ideas about how we can help people right now, and make sure we do the right things to help with recovery. And rebuild quickly.
Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Church in Chino Hills is mobilizing churches and places of worship to help displaced families and support brave (and exhausted) first responders.
And we must get rid of ridiculous rules that hamper relief and recovery efforts – for example, ridiculous weather regulations that make it impossible to bring in emergency generators from out of state to provide power where supplies have been cut off.
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Let's get rid of the bureaucracy that ties you in knots of red tape. Governor Gavin Newsom He says he wants to “accelerate” the issuance of permits to rebuild homes. great! Except: What exactly does he mean by “accelerated”? Can it take more than 120 days? To obtain a permit to rebuild a house that previously existed? Everything is very unclear at the moment. But it must be immediate!
After the Northridge earthquake in 1994, then-Gov. Pete Wilson — a Republican — tore up the rules and put in place cleanup and construction contracts that helped rebuild the Santa Monica Freeway in 66 days.
I spoke with Governor Wilson. We've incorporated his suggestions into our policy recommendations, along with many practical ideas from homebuilders and entrepreneurs.
I asked Technology leaders in Silicon Valley To develop a plan for a new “fire force” that will use artificial intelligence, drones and autonomous firefighting vehicles to detect and extinguish potentially dangerous wildfires before they start.
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All this and more can be found in our policy document: Salvage, repair, rebuild.
It's time for change in California, and this is the first step.
